A significant number of popadanstvo occur at a key moment in the Russian past. Armed with modern knowledge, they turn the tide to the glory of the Motherland, i.e., a popadanets becomes a progressor, creating an alternative history.8Восемь It was suggested that this phenomenon of Russian science fiction is characterized by two motivations: “Mary Sue”-type drive to self-fulfillment and patriotic nostalgy over the times of Soviet superpower (Communist nostalgia).